The Yard
Worth more than a pit-stop pre-show at nearby Prudential Center and NJPAC is this class-act casual restaurant in Military Park that’s the brainchild of premier chef-entrepreneur Kai Campbell. Ed Sherry gets lost in its sauces, in all the right ways.
Saimin (Not Ramen)
At Hawaii Station BBQ & Poke in Edison, the 50th state’s signature noodle bowl is a blink-and-miss-it item on a menu that rewards careful readers. And devoted eaters.
Dough
A classic for our time is a pizzeria, grill and tavern born out of a starter that’s now old enough to vote and continues to fuel the soul of a wide-ranging menu. When looking for a place to gather outside the home, this is your ticket to pleasing a crew with equally wide-ranging tastes.
Seasonal Warm-ups
It’s that extra something-very-special that ratchets up the end-games of each winner of this round of biweekly favorites: a spice mix, burger, seafood stew, fruited pastry and switched-up sandwich.
Pom Carrots
Pomegranate molasses teams up with carrots given a two-step roast and a boost of tart sweetness. It’s just what the season calls for.
Venga Pues
Colombian cuisine gets a bit of a high-style brush-up at a family-run spot on the main drag of this city by the bay. The menu’s deep and varied and there’s a helpful team on board, ready to guide.
Endless Summer Burger
At Hearthly, a burger almost tall enough to play center in the NBA isn’t banking its worth on height alone. No, it’s all about quality ingredients and custom-blended beef most carefully composed.
Wally’s
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served year-round at an eatery on LBI that’s too intimate to be a roadhouse, too original to be a diner and too happily quirky to be a chain. Make an off-season date to comb a nearby beach and menus that are familiar yet idiosyncratic.
The Whirl of Sandwiches
Anything goes when it comes to layering fundamentals and accents on breadstuffs and calling it a hearty meal. This time, it’s a mash-up of many inspirations from far-flung ports.
Amuzgo
After a couple of suppers at this new and polished Mexican where a veteran chef’s personal vision is re-making menus that have fallen on too-familiar times, you may relegate Taco Tuesday to Taco Twice a Year.
Besos Pan Dulce
At Primavera Bakery in Perth Amboy, Mexican pastries of all stripes reign. The one whose name translates as “kisses” and looks something like a giant yo-yo will seal the deal to be your new sweetheart.
The Inn at Sugar Hill/Dockside
Sitting pretty on a river in the county seat of Atlantic is this landmark full-service inn, restaurant and tavern where charm, warmth and setting are the draws.